From Fundamental Physics to Next-Generation Medical Imaging

In this plenary, I will share how our research combines fundamental physics with advances in detector materials and system design to capture as much information as possible from every photon. I will discuss how we integrate quantum-entangled photon imaging concepts with advanced detector technologies to push the limits of both emission and transmission imaging. For Positron Emission Tomography (PET), we harness polarization and momentum correlations of annihilation photons, measured with high energy resolution, time sensitive CZT detectors, to reduce randoms, improve event classification, and enable robust multi-tracer and prompt-γ imaging. For X-ray imaging, we engineer thick amorphous selenium (a-Se) layers with optimized blocking contacts to achieve high quantum efficiency and spectral separation in single-exposure dual-layer architectures, enabling precise, low-dose detection of subtle features such as coronary artery calcifications. Across all of these efforts, our work seeks to translate fundamental physics into practical, high-impact imaging technologies for science, medicine, and beyond.